Apologies for the radio silence folks. The juvenile bass survey work and reporting have taken up most of my time of late (more about this later), but I have a little window now – until I start preparing the report for the BASS Catch Recording Scheme next month.
Fishing-wise, results haven’t been spectacular. I’m still hoping for another 70cm fish this year, to book-end the one I had earlier in the year, but time is running out! I have had some success, particularly on the coast, with up to 10 fish on occasion.
Moving on
I’ve been taking stock of my fishing lately. Over the years I’ve had many great experiences, in some amazing places – enough to fill anyone’s memory store. But things move on – your views and preferences, and physical capacity change.
I am very fortunate to be untroubled by joint problems as yet, but deterioration in my balance and hearing mean I am less confident on reefy, weedy ground – especially in the dark.
So I’m fishing more in estuaries, and with the greater flexibility that retirement brings I’m increasingly fishing during the day, particularly with Creature Bait type lures. I find this type of fishing more enjoyable these days. My catch rate is much lower compared to when I’m fishing on the coast, but as long as I catch the odd fish, preferably bigger ones, I’m quite happy.
I also enjoy freelining mackerel or squid in estuaries. I’ve only had one fish of note – 60cm so far, but the potential for bigger ones is there.
A matter of conscience
I’m increasingly wrestling with my conscience about fish and cruelty these days, so in this regard catching fewer fish might not actually be a bad thing. There seems to be a growing body of opinion about fishing being cruel, perhaps fuelled by the increasing popularity of catch and release, which is perceived (by some) as ‘torturing fish for fun’. Personally, I have always felt that fish don’t feel pain, but I’m not so sure now.
Assuming that fish can feel pain from angling-related activities (and I’m not totally convinced they can), what else can I do to reduce this, without actually giving up fishing, which is so much a part of my life? Well, using single and barbless hooks, to reduce injury and unhooking time has to help. Focussing on targeting fewer, but larger fish might also help – if they were there to be caught!
Pure fishing
I’ve never been into group fishing, and I’m increasingly fishing alone these days. I find this allows me to enjoy fishing in its purest form, without the competitive element, disappointments and restrictions that can come with fishing with others. But then, perhaps I’m just becoming a grumpy old man!
Juvenile bass surveys
Although my fishing time is curtailed during the productive summer and early autumn months by the juvenile bass surveys, this is a sacrifice I’m more than prepared to make. It’s so rewarding working with people (see featured image – photo courtesy of Esther Hughes) who are passionate about bass conservation, and the data that this provides.
The report of our work in 2025 can be downloaded from the Cornwall Bass Investigations Group website. The settlement (taking up residence within the estuary system) of this year’s ‘0’ groups appears reduced, particularly for the Helford. Just when we were expecting a ‘bumper’ year class, perhaps even approaching the exceptional years of 1959, 1976 or 1989, prompted by improving stock levels and a prolonged marine heatwave in the spring, nature threw a spanner in the works!
We’re not sure why this happened (but there are a few ideas in the discussion section of the report), but the take-home is that the 2025 year class looks poor on the Helford, and only fair/reasonable on the Fal. Let’s hope things are better next year.
Achieving an excellent bass fishery
Although stocks may be improving, they’re not where they should be, to provide a margin of safety in the event of a run of bad year classes. The last time this happened it led, in conjunction with overfishing, to the stock crashing around 2015. Let’s hope that fishery managers remember this when they agree catch limits for next year at the annual fishing opportunities meeting.
If you want the chance to catch more and bigger bass please donate whatever you can afford to this initiative from Bass Angling Conservation. It could well be the best money you’ll spend on fishing this year.
That’s all for now folks, thanks for reading,
